Snap assembled dispensing package and cover

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to an improved universal dispensing package for medicaments to be dissolved in a parenteral solution prior to use. The package may be filled and assembled by merely snapping together its components. The packages reduce the cost of drugs by permitting the economy inherent in high speed filling and assembly. The package is made up of a container which has a tapered shank on its discharge end and a piercing device, snappably connected to the container, which also serves as a conduit for dispensing the medicament. A cover may be provided which fits over the conduit and shank and snap-fits into place. Associated with the package may be a pull-strip device for removing the cover, an internal filter and a vent in the conduit.

1451 Sept. 25, 1973 2,957,501 10/1960 Holmes.....................,..... 2,207,176 7/1940 Phillips 2,807,288 9/ l 957 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,344,217 10/1963 France.......,........................

ABSTRACT The disclosure is directed to an improved universal dislled and assembled by merely snapping together its 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon -Att0rney.l0seph Martin Weighman pensing package for medicaments to be dissolved in a parenteral solution prior to use. The package may be 11 components. The packages reduce the cost of drugs by permitting the economy inherent in high speed filling and assembly. The package is made up of a container which has a tapered shank on its discharge end and a piercing device, snappably connected to the container, which also serves as a conduit for dispensing the medicament. A cover may be provided which fits over the conduit and shank and snap-fits into place. Associated with the package may be a pull-strip device for removing the cover, an internal filter and a vent in the conduit.

Eugene J. Meterhoeier, West Chester, Pa.

American Home Products Corporation, New York, NY.

June 2, 1971 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1966 Schultz........................... 10/1967 Thompson Powers......... Henchert. 2/1970 Rahn................... Meinecke et a1.

n a m h e L 4 6 9 H 5 AND COVER Filed:

Appl. No.: 149,273

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 810,264, March 25, 1969, abandoned.

U.S. Field of Search....................

Unite States atent Meterhoefer SNAP ASSEMBLED DISPENSING PACKAGE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

PATENTED SEP25 I975 SHEU 2 0F INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENIED$EP25|975 3.760.987

SHE 3 [IF 3 2l4 ZIZ INVENTOR ATTORNEY SNAP ASSEMBLED DISPENSING PACKAGE AND COVER This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 810,264 filed Mar. 25, 1969, and now abandoned.

This invention is directed to an improved dispensing package for parenteral medicaments characterized by the adaptability of its component to assembly by a single unidirectional thrust. The package is made up of a container for the medicament, and a conduit adapted to convey the medicament to its point of use. Adjacent ends of the container and the conduit cooperate to tightly connect one to the other. An outer cover may be provided to protect the sterility of the dispensing package and its contents between the time of filling and the time of use. The outer cover similarly has two components which may be assembled by single, unidirectional thrust.

The package is an improvement on the package described in US. application Ser. No. 762,063 filed Sept. 24, 1968. The improvements comprise, in part, the adaptation of the latter package to mass production techniques of sterilization, filling and assembly of the package, and, in part, a reduction of the number of component pieces. I

This invention is directed to a universal dispensing package for dispensing sterile medicaments to a parenteral solution container under substantially aseptic conditions. The dispensing package is adapted to aseptically transfer its contents to both open system and closed system parenteral solution containers. An open system parenteral solution container, typically glass, is one having a threaded closure which is removed in order to discharge the contents. A closed system parenteral solution container, typically glass, is one having a fixed plug, typically rubber, which is perforated by a sharp conduit, typically a hollow plastic needle, in order to remove the contents. Another type of closed system which has recently become available is made of flexible plastic and has a plastic membrane closure which is perforated by a sharp conduit.

The method may be practiced by transferring a sterile medicament, such as a powder, a lyophilized cake or a solution, to a parenteral solution container of diluent adapted for parenteral injection, irrigation or the like, the transfer being accomplished with maximum protection to sterility.

It is common practice to add medicaments to parenteral solutions in their containers at the time the parenteral solutions are administered. The additives may be antibiotics, such as sodium ampicillin, muscle relax ants, such as succinylcholine chloride, and others. The parenteral solution may be a saline solution, glucosesaline solution or other isotonic solution, such as is commonly employed for parenteral administration. Such solutions are usually administered intravenously but may be otherwise parenterally administered or may be used for irrigation.

The added medicaments are usually solutions, powders, or lyophilized cakes. Previously available means for bringing the powders or cakes into solution and for transferring the resulting solution to the bulk parenteral solution have been cumbersome and complicated and not devoid of risk to the sterility of the product contained.

There are two principal forms of containers for the parenteral solutions. More than half of the total market for intravenous fluids is supplied in closed system containers as they are defined above, while the remainder of the market is supplied in open type containers as defined above. There are various dispensing packages for medicaments to be used in conjunction with parenteral solution containers. Typical packages are described in United States Pats. No. 2,957,501, 2,957,609, 3,059,643 and 3,143,251. There is, however, no dispensing package available which may be used conveniently with both the closed system and open system parenteral solution containers with complete assurance of maintenance of sterility.

Numerous parenteral powders for reconstitution containing antibiotics and other medicaments are commercially available. A problem has been that in the manufacture of such powders, it is extremely difficult to control the particulate matter content at a satisfactory level and consequently the solutions ultimately prepared from such powders often contain substantial particulate matter counts. Commonly available antibiotics and other powdered injectable products suffer from this disadvantage. Increasingly higher standards for parenterals indicate that the amount of particulate matter should be greatly reduced.

Even in the instances of drugs marketed in the form of solutions which may be originally packaged substantially free of particulate matter, it is well known to those skilled in the art that the amount of particulate matter may increase substantially during the shelf life of the product as a result of contact with package components, trace drug decomposition and the like. Such solutions after the development of the particulate matter are still suitable for their intended use if the particulate matter is removed. The particulate matter may not be visible to the naked eye, and consequently the user may be unaware of its presence, and yet it might be potentially harmful. A dispensing package which overcomes this problem is described in copending application Ser. No. 762,063 filed on Sept. 24, 1968 and entitled Package.ln that application a package utilizing a membrane filter for the removal of particulate matter is shown.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for the addition of medicaments to both open and closed system containers of intravenous parenteral mixtures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal dispensing package which is particularly suitable for use in mass production techniques of sterilization, filling and assembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a universal dispensing package which is adaptable to preassembly of parts for ease of handling in high-speed filling and sealing apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a universal dispensing package which makes use of a polyethylene container for liquids and utilizes an outer shell to render the container moisture-impermeable.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a dispensing package embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the dispensing package of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing an alternate embodiment of the dispensing package embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in use in conjunction with a closed system intravenous container;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 used in conjunction with an open system intravenous container; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view partly sectional and partly elevational showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The objects of the present invention may be achieved with a medicament dispensing package which may be assembled by a single unidirectional thrust. The package is made up of a reservoir container adapted to contain a medicament having a substantially frustoconically shaped discharge end, and a conduit adapted to snapably engage the container and to convey the medicament from the reservoir container to a parenteral solution container. Where the reservoir container or conduit are moisture-permeable an outer cover to protect the medicament after filling, sterilizing and prior to use may be provided.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 in which the package 200, as delivered to the point of use, is made up generally of a reservoir container 202 and having attached to it a conduit 204. Both the reservoir and conduit are enclosed in an outer cover which is made up of a lower component 206 and an upper component 208. j

The reservoir container 202 has a discharge end portion 210 which is made up of a substantially frustoconical shank 212 having fluting 214 defined on it. The fluting 214 is made up of a series of annular rings parallel to each other at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis 216 of the package 200. The discharge end portion comprises at its terminus 218 an annular ridge 220 extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis 216.

The conduit 204 is made up ofa piercing device 222 having at its discharge end a slanted terminus 224 and having a base 226 which has defined on its annular groove 228 which cooperates with the annular ridge 220 of the reservoir container 202 to hold the container 202 and the conduit 204 in fixed relation to one another.

The base 226 is further provided with a tapered end portion 230 which is of continually increasing size from extreme end terminus 232 which is nearest the contents of the reservoir to the full size of the base. The base is designed to have a dimension such as to be a tight press fit in its external diameter with the internal diameter of the discharge end portion 210 of the container 202. The base is provided adjacent its terminus 232 with a membrane filter 234 which serves to retain the solid medicament within the reservoir container 202 during shipping and storage and to filter particulate matter from the medicament solution as is described below. The base is also provided with a membrane filter 236 which serves as a vent to filter entering air when the dispensing package is used in conjunction with a vacuum packed parenteral solution. The annular ridge 238 abuts the terminus 218 of the container 202 and serves as a stop to prevent overinsertion of the conduit into the container.

The lower component 206 and upper component 208 of the outer cover are described more fully below in connection with FIG. 2.

If desired, the reservoir container 202 may be preassembled within the lower component 206 of the outer cover priorto assembly with the conduit 204 and the upper component 208 of the outer cover.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the annular mounting portion 50 slides along the inclined surface 46 until the annular surface 64 engages the annular surface 42 and is prevented from removal by the engagement of annular surfaces 44 and 66. Simultaneously the open end slides over inclined surface 82 until the annular ridge 78 is engaged by the annular ridge 30 and annular surfaces 34 and 84 are in contact restraining movement apart and holding the first component and the second component in the predetermined position relative to each other.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the conduit 124 similarly engages the internal surface of container 122 while simultaneously the open end 132 slides over the inclined surface 142 until the annular ridge engages the annular ridge 138 and the annular surfaces 136 and 144 are in contact restraining the first component from moving apart from the second component, and holding the first and second components in predetermined relation to each other.

In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 3, the outer cover 106 engages the container 102 in a manner similar to that of FIG. 1, while simultaneously the conduit 104 engages the outer surface of the container 102. The annular ridge 108 engages the annular groove 118 while the annular ridge 114 engages the annular groove 112 holding the conduit and container in predetermined fixed relationship to one another.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A universal dispensing package 10 is made up ofa container 12, a conduit 14, and an outer cover 16, and contains medicament 18.

The container 12 has a shank 20. The outer surface 22 of the shank 20 tapers from a proximal periphery 24 to a distal periphery 26 and generally defines a truncated cone, as shown. The outer surface 22 may have a patterned configuration, such as fluting 28, defined on it to adapt it better to cooperate with the interior of the neck of an open system parenteral solution container as described below. An annular ridge 30 is defined adjacent the proximal periphery 24 and is made up of an inclined portion 32 which is inclined relative to the outer surface 22 and a normal surface 34 which extends at substantially right angles from the outer surface 22.

The intemal surface 21 of the shank 20 has an annular groove 36 defined in it by surface 38, which is preferably substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 40 of the package 10, and surfaces 42, 44, which are at substantially right angles to longitudinal axis 40. Adjacent surface 44 is an inclined internal surface 46 which is inclined inwardly toward axis 40 and extends from the discharge end 48 of the container 12.

The conduit 14 is made up of an annular mounting portion 50 and a piercing device 52 tapering from the mounting portion to the distal, or discharge end 54.

Theannular mounting portion 50 and the piercing device 52 are hollow and together define an internal conduit 56. The piercing device 52 may have a vent 58 containing a membrane filter mounted in it to sterilize influent air when the package is used with a vacuum packed parenteral solution.

Also the piercing device 52 preferably has an annular ridge 60 defined on it to cooperate with the outer cover 16 as further described below. The annular mounting portion 50 is defined by annular surfaces 62, 64, 66, adapted to engage surfaces 38, 42, 44, respectively, and hold the conduit 14 in a fixed relation to the con tainer 12.

It has been found advantageous to provide an annular groove 68 defined by annular surfaces 70, 72, and 74. The annular groove is adapted to receive a filter 76. The use of such a filter is described in copending application serial number 762,063, filed September 24, 1968 by Schneller et al. While the preferred embodiment utilizes a filter 76 to retain the medicament 18 and for other purposes, it is to be understood that the filter may be eliminated and other means used to retain the medicament. As is shown in FIG. 3 and described below, the outer surface of the conduit 104 and the inner surface of the outer cover 106 may frictionally engage each other to form a tight seal and retain the medicament.

Only negligible amounts of reconstituted solution are lost through the membrane filter in vent 58 because the resistance to flow is extremely high compared to the unobstructed internal conduit 56.

In an alternate embodiment, not shown, a stud may be connected to the inner surface of the outer cover and extend into and block the internal conduit formed within the conduit, thus sealing the medicament in place.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outer cover 16surrounds the entire conduit 14 and shank 20. The outer cover 16 has an annular ridge 78 defined in it adjacent its open end 80 by an inclined surface 82, which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 40, and normal surface 84, which is at substantial-1y right angles to the longitudinal axis 40. The annular ridge 78 of the outer cover 14 engages the annular ridge 30 of the container 12 and sealingly connects the outer cover to the container. An annular groove 86 defined on the outer surface of the outer cover forms a site for tearing when force is ap-- plied to the pull-tab 88 attached to the tear strip 90 which is defined between the annular groove.86 and the open end 80 of the outer cover 14. Pulling on the pull-tab causes the tear strip, to be torn loose along groove 86, thus disengaging the annular ridge 78 from the annular ridge 30 and permitting removal of the outer cover 16.

In FIG. 3 is shown an alternate embodiment of the dispensing package 100 which is made up of a container 102, a conduit 104 and an outer cover 106. In this embodiment the outer surface 92 of the conduit 104 frictionally engages the inner surface 94 of the outer cover 106 and. provides a seal to retain the contents of the-package and maintainv its sterility. A filter 96, if desired, may be mounted'in a seat 98 substantially similar to the annular groove 68 described above.

The proximal portion of the conduit 104 has an annular ridge 108 defined on its interior surface which together with an inclined annular portion 110 defines an annular groove, or seat, 112. Similarly the container 102 has defined at its distal portion an annular ridge 114 which together with annular surface 116 defined an annular groove, or seat, 118. The annular ridge 108 of the conduit 104 is seated in the annular groove 118 of the container 102 and the annular ridge 114 of the container 102 is seated in the annular groove 1 12 of the conduit 104 providing a sealed engagement of the two.

In FIG. 2 is-shown an alternate embodiment of the invention showing a dispensing package 120 which is made up of a container 122, a conduit 124, an upper outer cover 126, and a lower outer cover 128. The upper outer cover 126 has an annular ridge 130 defined in it adjacent its open end 132 by an inclined surface 134 and a normal surface 136. The lower outer cover 128 has an annular ridge 138 defined in it adjacent its open end 140 by inclined surface 142 and normal surface 144. The annular ridges 138 and 130 engage one another and hold the upper outer cover and lower outer cover in fixed relation to each other providing a moisture proof and sterile container for the contents. A tear strip 146 is defined by annular groove 148 and may be activated by force applied on pull-tab 150.

It has been found that a universal dispensing package may be adapted to sertilization, assembly and filling in high-speed equipment by designing the elements of the package to tightly snap together with a single unidirectional thrust.

Where an outer cover is used the package is adapted to partial preassembly prior to sterilization. By utilizing the features of the present invention, the package at the time of filling consists in a lower component for containing the medicament in the upper component for sealing the lower component. Each of these may be made up of more than one element. In the alternate embodiment as is shown in FIG. 2, the second compo nent is made up of a conduit 124 and an upper outer coverl26. Both the upper component and the lower component may be sterilized by well-known procedures, for instance, by gas sterilization utilizing ethylene oxide. After filling the first component with the medicament, the second component may be simply snapped into place by pressing the first component appropriately against the second component.

In use, the outer cover 16, 106, 126 is removed. This may be accomplished by pulling on the pull-tab 88, 150 which propagates a tear along the annular groove 86, 148, and separates the tear strip 90, 146 from the cover 16, 106, 126. This disengages the cooperating annular ridges 30 and 78, 130 and 138, and the outer cover 16, 106, 126 may then be removed from the container 12, 102, 122 by a gentle pulling force.

When used with a closed system intravenous container as shown in FIG. 4, the piercing device 52 is inserted through a sealing member 152 and a rubber stopper 154 of the closed system intravenous container 156. The conduit 56 provides communication between the interior of the container 156 and the contents of the dispensing package 10. Where the medicament 18 is a liquid, it is readily discharged into the container 156 by compressing the sides of the flexible container 12. A medicament 18 passes through the filter 76, when present, where any particles are removed.

Where a medicament 18 is dry, the walls of the container 12 may be compressed and the tip or discharge end 54 submerged in the intravenous solution 158 by inverting the assembled system. A suitable portion of cament solution may be discharged from the package 10 by compressing the sides of the container 12. The medicament 18 passes through the filter 76, when present, where any particles may be removed. The steps may be repeated to flush the container, if desired.

In FIG. is shown the dispensing package in position to discharge its contents into an open system parenteral solution container 160. The outer surface 22 of the shank 20 engages the inner surface 162 of the container 160 and with it forms a tight seal. The tightness of the seal may be increased by the formation of a pattemed configuration on the outer surface 22 of the shank 20 in order to develop a suitable friction seal. The medicament 18, when liquid, may be discharged directly into the container 160. Where the medicament is a solid, the package 10 in the parenteral solution container 160 may be inverted and a portion of the intravenous solution 164 drawn into the dispensing package 10 where, with gentle agitation as necessary, it dissolves the medicament 18. The reconstituted medicament solution may be discharged by again returning the containers to the position shown in FIG. 5 and compressing the flexible sides of the container 12.

The packages of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be similarly utilized in conjunction with open and closed system parenteral solution containers.

The container 12 is preferably made of polyethylene, but may be made of a similar elastically recoverable material, if desired. The conduit 14 is preferably made of rigid polyethylene but may be made of any other suitable plastic or metal. The piercing device 52 is typically made of the same material as the remainder of the conduit 14, but if desired may be of a different material such as a metal or alloy. The outer cover 16 is typically made of a water impermeable plastic, such as heavy gauge polyethylene, but may be made of rubber or other suitable water impermeable material such as drawn aluminum. The tear strip 90 is made of the same material as the outer cover. Thus, where a tear strip is to be used as a convenient opening device, the outer cover is preferably a relatively soft plastic, such as polyethylene.

The filter may be any suitable material, including sintered glass. However, membrane filters are preferred. Membrane filters are a class of thin filters composed of a porous matrix wherein the size of the pores prevents any insoluble matter larger than the pores from passing through the filter. When used for sterilization, membranes are composed of pores small enough to prevent the passage of microorganisms and thus render the solution sterile. The membrane filter is usually composed of cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose nitrate, combination of cellulose acetate and nitrate, regenerated cellulose, polyethylene, nylon, Teflon, polyvinyl chloride, fluorinated vinyl, polypropylene, epoxy glass, acrylic vinyl copolymer, or the like. The membrane filters useful in the practice of the present invention customarily range in thickness from 25 to 300 microns and have a pore size range from about 0.005 micron to 10 microns, preferably from about 0.2 micron to 10 microns. The filter may assume a variety of designs and embodiments to accomplish its function. A preferred embodiment of the filter is one that resembles a plate-and-frame filter and comprises at least one membrane supported at its periphery.

Filters having a pore size range of 0.005 to 10 microns are commercially available. Filters having pore sizes'smaller than about 0.2 microns sterilize by removing microorganisms. Filters having a pore size range of about 3 to 10 microns are particularly useful in the preferred embodiment.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is: I

1. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising: A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;

1. One end of said container being adapted to discharge said medicament;

2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;

3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container;

B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;

1. A base formed at one end of said conduit; 2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;

3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion;

C. A first annular ridge defined adjacent the base of said shank;

l. Said first annular ridge further comprising an inclined portion and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said shank;

D. A first outer cover enclosing said conduit and said shank;

l. A second annular ridge defined in said cover and having an inclined surface and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said cover, said second annular ridge being adapted to engage said first annular ridge and retain said container, conduit and cover in fixed relationship to each other;

E. A third annular ridge defined in the external surface of said base of said conduit distal with respect to said container and extending outwardly from the surface of said base of said conduit; and

F. An annular groove defined on the internal surface of said outer cover and extending outwardly from the surface of said outer cover and adapted to cooperate with said third annular ridge and retain said'outer cover and container in a predetermined relationship.

2. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising:

A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;

1. One end of said container being adapted to dis- I I cha'rge'said medicament;

2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;

3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container;

B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;

1. A base formed at one end of said conduit;

2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of 10 said conduit;

3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion;

C. A first annular ridge defined adjacent the base of said shank;

l. Said first annular ridge further comprising an inclined portion and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said shank;

D. A first outer cover enclosing said conduit and said shank; l. A second annular ridge defined in said cover and having an inclined surface and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said cover, said second annular ridge being adapted to engage said first annular ridge and retain said container, conduit and cover in fixed relationship to each other; and- E. A tear strip defined in said first outer cover adapted to remove said second annular ridge upon the application of tearing force and permit removal of said outer cover.

3. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising:

A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;

1. One end of said container being adapted to discharge said medicament;

2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;

3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container;

B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;

l. A base formed at one end of said conduit;

2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;

3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion;

C. A first outer cover enclosing said shank and said conduit;

1. A first annular ridge defined in said firstouter cover and further comprising an inclined surface extending outwardly from said first outer cover and an annular su'rfaceextending outwardly at substantially right angles from said first outer cover;

D. A second outer cover enclosing said container;

1. A second annular ridge defined in said second outer cover and further comprising an inclined surface extending outwardly from said first outer cover and an annular surface extending outwardly from said first outer cover and adapted to cooperate with said first annular ridge to sealingly connect said first outer cover to said second outer cover; and

E. A tear strip defined in said first outer cover adapted to remove said first annular ridge upon the application of tearing force and permit removal of said first outer cover. 

1. Said first annular ridge further comprising an inclined portion and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said shank; D. A first outer cover enclosing said conduit and said shank;
 1. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising: A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;
 1. One end of said container being adapted to discharge said medicament;
 1. A base formed at one end of said conduit;
 1. A second annular ridge defined in said cover and having an inclined surface and an annular surface extending at substantially right angles from the outer surface of said cover, said second annular ridge being adapted to engage said first annular ridge and retain said container, conduit and cover in fixed relationship to each other; E. A third annular ridge defined in the external surface of said base of said conduit distal with respect tO said container and extending outwardly from the surface of said base of said conduit; and F. An annular groove defined on the internal surface of said outer cover and extending outwardly from the surface of said outer cover and adapted to cooperate with said third annular ridge and retain said outer cover and container in a predetermined relationship.
 2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;
 2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;
 2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;
 2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;
 2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;
 2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;
 2. A discharge orifice defined at the other end of said conduit;
 2. A frusto-conical shank defined on said discharge end of said container;
 2. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising: A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;
 3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion; C. A first annular ridge defined adjacent the base of said shank;
 3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container; B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;
 3. A dispensing package for medicaments to be added to a parenteral solution prior to use comprising: A. A container adapted to contain a medicament;
 3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion; C. A first annular ridge defined adjacent the base of said shank;
 3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container; B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;
 3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container; B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container;
 3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion; C. A first annular ridge defined adjacent the base of said shank;
 3. At least one annular depression defined on said base and being adapted to engage said annular ridge on said discharge end of said container to connect said conduit to said container whereby engagement may be accomplished with a single unidirectional motion; C. A first outer cover enclosing said shank and said conduit;
 3. At least one annular ridge defined on said discharge end of said container; B. A conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface connected to said container and adapted to conduct said medicament from said container to a parenteral solution container; 